Sunday, December 12, 2010

i work at an incredible new studio, i live in an amazing cabin, i live in a beautiful city that i'm getting to explore, i have great friends, i sold my car, i love my bikes, i'm learning to paint, and i have a wonderful new partner to share exciting new things with.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

so, these guys may not actually know who i am. i had the fortune to meet them very soon before they started their trip across the country by bicycle.....from san diego to NYC. it hasn't been too long, it seems, and they are already in alabama!

i just wanted to mark ross' blog on their updates, show my admiration, and get a little jealous of what is one of my life goals... touring on a very large scale.

i toured with morgan around spain, but not to this extent. we stayed in farm houses, we had a map and a plan and slept in beds...

This March, electro-shock provocateur Peaches was due to perform a one-woman version of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Jesus Christ Superstar at Berlin's Hebbel Theatre, with piano accompaniment by Chilly Gonzales. But apparently the German people in control of the rights to the musical didn't want to risk a weird Peaches-as-Jesus scandal, so they preemptively shut it down, according to Peaches' Twitter. (Via The Guardian.)

In a statement, Peaches wrote: "It's a shame that the authorities feel threatened by this new fresh approach. I know a lot of people who really love the music and would appreciate this stripped down down solo performance. I have so much respect for the music and lyrics from the original score and this was my way of honouring that." She also added: "PEACHES CHRIST SUPERSTAR CRUCIFIED BEFORE OPENING NIGHT!"

Trevor Fray is the other half of Manivela Food Delivery. A resident of San Diego for the past fifteen years he has grown to love this city by traversing it in the best possible way: a bicycle.

Fray belongs to one of those rare but growing breed of individuals who chose to live in San Diego without an automobile. He has learned how to get around San Diego solely by bicycle and has based all his employment around his bike.

For the past seven years, Fray has been a bicycle commuter getting more familiar with his city in a manner a growing number of San Diegans are beginning to.

When Matthew Reate initially approached Fray with the idea of opening a bicycle powered business in San Diego, they jointly decided to create the business that would promote certain core values that were important to the both of them. They wanted to open San Diegan’s minds to the possibility of using a bicycle for transportation and raise awareness toward bicyclists. They wanted to stimulate local businesses by delivering for small family owned businesses. Most importantly, they wanted to contribute to the growing San Diego bicycle culture.

Trevor Fray. Photo by mattlingo.com

In addition to delivering restaurant prepared meals, Manivela also fulfills the occasional grocery order. However, Manivela wants to be more than just a bicycle powered delivery service for restaurants. To that end, part of Fray’s focus has been to cater to the disabled and low income population in San Diego. This focus ties into his desire where he envisions that Manivela will eventually operate as a non-profit that not only performs delivery services by bicycle, but also teaches people to reconnect with their community. Fray wants to be a source for delivering food , necessities and entertainment needs to the segment of our population that is often forgotten about or ignored.

When I asked why he wanted Manivela to operate as a non-profit, Fray responded that he didn’t want profit or finances to dictate the goals of Manivela. He instead wanted to focus on the service component and be a source of help in the local community.

Using knowledge gained from working at Pedal Pushing, Fray envisions using the bicycle to empower San Diegans so that the bicycle can be used effectively as a means of transport and grow as a community.

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Both Fray and Reate are doing wonderful things for the San Diego bicycle community and we wish them much success in their future endeavours. They eventually hope to expand to the San Ysidro within the next year and show other parts of metro San Diego that a bicycle powered business is not only possible but also the way of the future.

For the do chua (pickles)In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, vinegar, and water. Add daikon and carrots and toss. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Drain completely before using. (Note: The measurements given are guidelines; feel free to adjust the sugar, vinegar, or salt to your own taste.)

For the tofuCut tofu into 1/4-inch thick slices and press between clean kitchen towels or paper towels to rid of excess water. In a shallow dish, combine soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, lemongrass, and garlic. Place tofu in dish, gently coat slices with marinade, and arrange so they overlap as little as possible. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp on each side.

For the spreadIn a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and cilantro. Add Maggi or soy sauce to taste, if desired.

To serveSlice baguettes lengthwise, leaving one side as a hinge. Spread mayonnaise on top and bottom halves. Arrange fillings and garnishes: cucumber, do chua, tofu, jalapeño, cilantro.